“Kicking off a canvas this morning with some incredible volunteers in Northborough, MA! Thank you to everyone working hard across the country this weekend to help elect @PeteButtigieg as our next President!” Tweeted Rep. Kathleen Rice (D–N.Y.) on Sunday, hours before Pete Buttigieg dropped out of the race. Buttigieg’s exit came two days before Super Tuesday.
Rice, a Garden City resident, spoke to Buttigieg supporters in Northborough, Mass., and East Longmeadow, Mass., on Sunday.
She announced her endorsement of Buttigieg on Nov. 26, as the former South Bend, Ind., mayor was surging in Iowa polls and gaining momentum in New Hampshire. Representatives Don Beyer (D–Va.) and Pete Viscolsky (D–Ind.) had previously announced their support of Buttigieg.
“The thing that I admire about him is that he’s done it not by over-promising things and pandering to the base and he doesn’t use divisive rhetoric or my way or the highway approach,” Rice said in November. “He’s really demonstrated an unmatched ability and a willingness to reach voters where they are from across the political spectrum.”
She also praised his moderate approach.
“I represent a pretty moderate district and he’s speaking to my constituents,” she said.
Rice originally backed former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke. When O’Rourke announced that he was ending his campaign, Rice threw her support behind Buttigieg.
